Dragana Vilinac Posted on 11/03/2014 Dragana Vilinac, who died on 6 March at the age of 56 was one of the leading herbalists of her generation whose influence transformed the use of herbs in both Bhutan and the UK. Born in Sarajevo, Dragana was the fourth generation of her family to become a herbalist, although rather than choosing to study in what was then Yugoslavia, she came to the School of Herbal Medicine in Tunbridge Wells, graduating with a Dip. Phyt., in 1986. Following further study at the College of Traditional Medicine in Guangzhou, Dragana established a practice in Leicester as well as developing the tincture department at East West Herbs – a major supplier of Chinese herbal products in the 1980s/90s. In 1994 Dragana joined an EU project to establish the Research and Pharmaceutical Units of Bhutan’s Department of Traditional Medicine Services. The six years she spent in the country left her with a deep love of all things Bhutanese and her contribution was highly valued by all involved as a letter, sent to her shortly before her death well demonstrated. On her return to the UK, Dragana joined Neal’s Yard Remedies as Head Herbalist developing a range of products for the company. Always a great believer in the value of good nutrition – as well as being an excellent cook – Dragana was a major contributor to “The Chinese Herbal Cookbook: Healing Foods from East and West” (pub Kyle Cathie 2000) as well as“Neal’s Yard Remedies: Cook, Brew and Blend your own Herbs “ (pub. Dorling Kindersley 2011) and “Neal’s Yard Remedies: “Healing Foods”(pub. Dorling Kindersley, 2013). Her last contribution was to develop Neal’s Yard Remedies’ new herbal tea range – a set of products which bear her name and of which she was rightly proud. Dragana was a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists since she graduated in 1986, and an active member of the NIMH Accreditation Board for many years. Always stylish, welcoming, generous, with a profound knowledge of her subject, but notoriously self-effacing, Dragana was much loved by a wide circle of friends and lives on in the hearts of all who knew her. Details of her funeral will be available shortly . Oproštaj od naše drage Dragane održat će se na otoku Krku tijekom uskršnjih praznika.